Zusammenfassung der Ressource
Biological Approach to Psychology
- KEY ASSUMPTIONS
- Mental disorders
are equivalent to
physical disorders
= illnesses.
- All behaviour is governed
by the brain. Changes or
flaws in brain function lead
to disordered behaviours.
- Phineas Gage had a spike through
his head which removed a large part
of his brain when he was working on
the train tracks and developed
aggressive behaviour post-accident.
- Mental disorders are created by
biological causes: genes,
biochemical substances,
neuroanatomy, and/or
microorganisms.
- EG'S OF HOW BIOLOGICAL FACTORS CAN CAUSE PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS
- GENES
- A person's genes
heavily influence
the development of
their body.
- Twin studies have shown high
concordance rates. EG KENDLER
ET AL (1991) found that MZ twins
are at 26% v DZ twins at 16%
concordance rate for bulimia
nervosa.
- Genes are also instrumental in the production of
certain neurotransmitters and hormones such as
serotonin. A lack of serotonin is linked to
depression.
- BIOCHEMICAL
SUBSTANCES
- Neurotransmitters and hormones affect brain function.
- A lack of noradreneline and serotonin has been linked to depression.
- BUNNEY ET AL (1965) found that an excess of
serotonin has been linked to anxiety disorders.
- NEUROANATOMY
- Brain structure can cause
disordered behaviours.
- Schizophrenia may be
caused by abnormal
neuroanatomy. Many
schizophrenics have
ventricles in their brains.
- However not ALL
schizophrenics have
ventricles in their brains.
- eg Phineas Gage.
- MENZIES ET AL
(2007) found that
OCD patients had
abnormalities in
areas of their
brains that
regulate control.
- MICROORGANISMS
- Some
disorders are
caused by
biological
organisms
infecting the
brain.
- General Paresis is an example of this - it
is also known as neural syphilis. (STI)
- In the third stage of
syphilis the brain is
infected and tissue is
destroyed by the
bacteria.
- EVALUATION
OF THE
BIOLOGICAL
APPROACH
- STRENGTHS
- Use of brain scanning
techniques has identified
biological aspects in many
psychopathologies.
- Research into genetic tendencies
has revealed that hereditary does
affect the likelihood of developing a
disorder... though concordance
rates are never 100%.
- It has lead to more
acceptance and
humane treatment of
those suffering.
- Somatic treatments have
been shown to have had
great affect with some
suffers of mental
disorders.
- WEAKNESSES
- The biological approach is
reductionist. Only the physical
aspects are taken into account when
really a full picture of the causes of
the disorder should be considered.
- Somatic treatments are never
effective for all suffers of
mental disorders. Drugs are
largely ineffective for
conditions such as phobias,
for eg.
- Abnormal
biochemistry could
be an EFFECT rather
than a CAUSE of
mental illness. The
link is correlational.
- WATSON ET AL
(1998) found that
when he isolated
monkeys from
their social ground
they had a
reduced
production of
serotonin.
- SO environmental factors can affect brain
chemistry and may be the root of some disorders.